Apparatus for machining propeller-blades



- S HEATH. APPARATUS FOR MACHINING PBOPELLER BLADES. APPLICATION FILED AUG. I4, 1911.

1,363,972, V Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

S. HEATH.

APPARATUS FOR MACHINING PROPELLER BLADES. APPLICATION mzo AUG. 14. 1911.

1,363,972, I Patented De0. 28, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WWW

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

APPARATUS FOR MACHINING PROPELLER-BLADES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 28, 1920.

Application filed August 1 4, 1917. Serial No. 186,222.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SPENCER HEATH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, State of Maryland, have invented new and useful Tmprovemenets in Apparatus for Machining Propeller-Blades, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to apparatus for machining and milling helical surfaces and pertains particularly to machines for forming propeller blades.

One object of the invention is to provide a simple machine in which the movement of a cutter member follows substantially automatically the movement of a cam member actuated by the contact of the same against the model surface of a form.

The invention includes the design and mounting of the stationary parts and the relation and cooperation of the moving parts with respect to themselves and with the stationary part. Further features of the inven tion will be described and claimed in the following specification and claims and illus trated in the accompanying drawings in which 'Figure 1 represents a front elevation of the propeller forming machine, showing the two cutter members and the two propeller forms with the propeller to be cut on either side of the machine.

Fig. 2 represents an end elevationpartially in section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 represents a plan view of the apparatus of the lower carriage with the upper carriage removed.

Fig. 4 represents a sectional view-1n elevation through the upper and lower carriages.

Referring in detail to the drawings 1 represents the vertical side frame of the structure and 2 represents the horizontal cross members at the top thereof, adapted to hold the material which is to be formed into a propeller. 3 represents a similar horizontal support located immediately below the cross member 2 and parallel'therewith. At the bottom of the structure are the tracks 4 extending between the uprights l. Mounted on the tracks 4 is a lower primary carriage 5 provided with the wheels 6 adapted to engage the tracks 4. The carriage 5 is constructed with suitable frame members 7 and flooring 8. Journaled in the frame members 7 are the axles 9 carrying the wheels 6. The

carriage 5 is adapted to be moved along the tracks 4 immediately below the members 2 and 3 and parallel thereto. Mounted on the upper surface of the carriage 5 are the track members 10, extending horizontally and at right angles to the lower tracks 4 and the horizontal members 2 and 3. Mounted above the lower primary carriage 5 is an upper secondary carriage 11 having the wheels 12 in engagement with and adapted to run upon the tracks 10. At the middle point of the front and rear ends of the secondary carriage 11 are the vertical standards 13 having at their upper ends a cross connecting member 14. Slidably mounted between the upright standards 13 and positioned between the same is a tool carriage 15 having an extension at its lower side supporting a cross horizontal axle 16 which in turn supports at either end a rotatably mounted circular wheel 17 andl'Z". These wheels 17 and 17 are hereinafter termed model followers and are adapted to slide on or roll on the surface of the form serving as a model and carried by the horizontal member 3, the form is denoted by the reference numeral 3 The cross member 2 extends horizontally through an enlarged opening in tool carriage 15 and is adapted to hold the work which is to be formed into a propeller. This work is identified by the numeral 2*. On the upper surface ofthe member 2 are suitable supports or clamps indicated diagrammatically at 2 and in the center of the work is an oblique fastening bolt 2 adapted to hold the parallel flat surfaces of the propeller at an oblique angle so that the surface of the work may be cut at as near a horizontal plane as is possible. Mountedon the upper portion of the tool carriage 15 is a downwardly projecting support 18 in the lower end of which is mounted a horizontal axle 19 carrying at either end thereof a rotary cutter member 20 and 20 positioned immediately above the model followers 17 and 17 respectively.

Power for operating the apparatus is provided by an electric motor 21 supported at the rear side of the primary carriage 5. An upright frame 22 is pivoted to the carriage 5 near the rear end thereof and at either side thereof. This frame has an upper cross member 23 and just below the member 23 a horizontal shaft 24 supporting pulley wheels as will be described. Extending between the cross member 24 and llll the rear edge of the tool carriage is a spacing member or bar 25 which is pivotally connected to both the carriage and the cross member. Power from the motor 21 is delivered t0 the cutter member by means of a belt 26 extending to the pulley 27 on the cross rod 24 and by secondary belts 28 and 28' extending from the pulley 29 and 29 carried by the cross shaft 24. The forward end of the belts 28 and 28 extend over the pulleys 30 and 30 mounted at the top of the tool carriage 15. The pulleys 30 and 3O are mounted on a cross axle 31 and at the central point thereof is a larger pulley 32 over which extends a belt or chain 33 connecting with and driving the axle 19 and the cutter members 20 and 20". At the top of the structure and fastened to the member 14 are the pulley wheels 34. A flexible connection extends from the front and from the rear of the tool carriage l5 upwardly and over the pulley wheels 34 and the weight of the tool carriage is balanced by weights 35. t the bottom of the tool carriage and near the front thereof is a cross bar 36 providing a gripping surface for the hands of the operator. The tool carriage thus being balanced and being of fairly light construction may be easily and freely moved up and down between the vertical standards 13. The degree of vertical movement governs the depth of the cut made by the rotary cutter members 20 and 20 The depth of the cut is further regulated by the movement of the model follower wheels 17 or 17 over the model surface.

The lower primary carriage 5 is moved along the tracks 4 by the power supplied from the motor 21 mounted on the rear of the carriage 5. Beneath the floor level of the carriage 5 and at the front thereof is a long pulley 37, mounted on the inner side of the frame and adapted to turn freely. On the opposite side of the frame is a shaft 38 having at its ends the worm gears 39 adapted to engage corresponding gears 40 mounted rigidly with the axle 9 of the lower carriage 5. On the shaft 38 between the worm gears 39 and immediately opposite the roller 3'? is a drive pulley 41 and a loose pulley 42 is on one side thereof and a similar loose pulley 43 on the other side thereof. The pulley 41 is rigidly fastened to the shaft 38 and adapted to turn therewith. A. drive belt 44 extends from the motor 21 to the pulley 3'? near the center of the latter. Extending from the pulley 37 on one side of the belt 44 is a straight belt 45 extending to the loose pulley 42, and on the other side is a crossed belt 46 extending from the pulley 37 to the pulley 43. At the front of the entire apparatus is a handle 47 acting as alever to rock the shaft 48 extending beneath the carriage 5. The shaft 48 is connected to a belt shifting rod 49 by a connection 50.

Fastened to the rod 49 near the shaft 38 are the belt engaging members 51 and 52. It will be observed that when the belt 46 is moved from the pulley 43 to the pulley 41 the pulley wheel 41 will be driven counterclockwise. Conversely, when the belt 45 is moved to the pulley 41, the pulley 41 and shaft 38 will be driven in a clockwise direction. The control of the belts and the application of power may be regulated at will by the lever 47. The speed of the travel of the carriage 5 along the tracks 4 will depend upon the ratio of pulleys and worm gearing. Mounted on the front of the horizontal support member 3 and projecting horizontally forward from the same is a pin 55 inserted into one of a series of openings. This pin is adapted to engage the lever 47" which is also connected to the shaft 48. Endwise movement of the carriage 5 will bring the lever 47 into engagement with the pin 55 shifting the belts and thus reversing the application of power and the movement of the carriage.

The movement of the secondary or upper carriage 11 forwardly and rearwardly is controlled by a wheel 56 having a screwthreaded connection with illustrated at 57. The rear end of a shaft 58 extending from the wheel 56 is connected to the track 10 which is mounted rigidly on the lower carriage. As shown, the end of the shaft 58 is journaled in a member 59 which is suitably rigidly connected to the primary carriage. As the wheel 56 is turned the secondary or upper carriage 11 is accordingly moved forwardly or rearwardly.

The operation of the structure will be understood from the foregoing description of the construction when considered with the following explanation: The model surface or form to be followed is indicated at 3. It will be observed that the structure provides a surface considerably broader than the surface of the work which is indicated at 2 This is arranged after this manner so thatthe cam wheel 17" or 17 would not slip off of the edge of the structure and allow the cutter member to cause any damage by suddenly dropping off the work 2 Also it will be observed that the apparatus provides at one side, at the left of 1 a contour surface on the part 3 for machining one end of a propeller and on the opposite side of the entire apparatus a contour surface for machining the opposite end of the propeller. The contour 3* would be provided with a similar surface on opposite side of the struc ture but with the curve reversed so that the opposite face of the work will be machined accordingly. Referring to the work 2 as illustrated in Fig. 1 it will be observed that at the left side the hub of the propeller is inclined rearwardly and that the fastening the carriage 11 as bolt 2 slopes rearwardly. On the right side of the structure in order to conform with the contour 3 the propeller hub is inclined forwardly and the fastening bolt 2 is likewise inclined. The invention provides for the inclination of the work toward the center so that the ends of the work at the extreme sides of the structure will be elevated higher than the adjacent ends. Accordingly, the fastening bolt 2 slopes inwardly at the top as well as obliquely forwardly or rearwardly. The inclination of the work makes it possible to use the cutter nearest the work without danger of damaging the work by the accidental cutting by the cutter on the opposite side of the tool carriage. This design is particularly advantageous in cutting the portions of propellers near the hubs and other parts where the surface of the propeller changes in inclination abruptly. The inclination of the contour surfaces 8* are identical with the inclination of the work. By having a cutter member and a corresponding cam member on either side of the tool carriage it is possible to operate on the work at the left of the apparatus with the cutter member 20 and then as soon as this work is completed and the motion of the carriage reversed the work on the right end of the structure may be in turn machined by the cutter member 20 While the machine is operating on one end of the structure the work or propeller on the opposite end is uncovered and may be removed or turned over according to the desires of the operator. This feature makes it possible to use a single traveling carriage over a double length of apparatus containing a double amount of work and has been found most economical because of its time saving advantage. The cam wheels 17 and 17 are adapted to slide as they move in an endwise direction as carried by the carriage 5, but they rotate on their axis when they move up the incline of the form 3 when actuated by the forward and rearward movement of the secondary or upper carriage l1 controlled by the wheel 56.

One of the great advantages of this machine is to be found in the feature of using a single traveling tool carriage carrying two cutters, each offset from the carriage on the side on which it is adapted to work, and arranged so that but one cutter will operate on the work during one machining operation. This single carriage serves for the machining of two pieces of work without a duplication of machine carriages and the duplication of power means and connecting drive means for the carriages.

The machine and apparatus herein described provides means for easily and substantially automatically machining propellers and has been found to have many advantages incident to the simplicity of the structure and the time saving element provided.

The invention includes the use of equivalent methods of actuating the control means and such changes are contemplated within the scope of the invention.

WVhat I claim is 1. An apparatus for machining propeller blades, comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel to said model support, a traveling carriage, parallel standards constituing guide rails mounted on said carriage, a tool carriage mounted for movement on and in the same plane with said parallel standards for movement at right angles to the line of movement of said traveling carriage, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, and power transmission means mounted on said traveling carriage to operate said cutter member.

2. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a horizontal stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel thereto, a traveling carriage movable horizontally, parallel vertical standards constituting guide rails mounted on and movable with said carriage, a tool carriage movably mounted for vertical movement on and between said parallel standards, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, and power transmission means mounted on said traveling carriage to operate said cutter member.

3. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel thereto, a primary carriage, a secondary carriage mounted on said primary carriage for movement at right angles to the travel of said primary carriage, parallel standards constituting guide rails mounted on one of said carriages, a tool carriage in the same plane with said parallel standards and mounted for movement on said standards at right angles to the line of movement of said traveling carriage, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, and power transmission means on one of said carriages to operate said cutter member.

4. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel to said model support, a traveling carriage, parallel standards constituting guide rails mounted on and movable with said carriage, a tool carriage mounted for movement on and between said parallel standards and at right angles to the line of movement of said traveling carriage, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, power transmission means mounted on said traveling carriage to operate said cutter member and to move said traveling carrlage with respect to said model support.

5. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel to said model support, a traveling carriage, parallel standards constituting guide rails mounted on and movable with said carriage, a tool carriage mounted for movement on and between said parallel standards and at right angles to the line of movement of said traveling carriage, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member car ried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, and unitary power transmission means mounted on said traveling carriage to operate said cutter member and move said traveling carriage with respect to said model support.

6. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel to said model support, a traveling carriage, parallel standards constituting guide rails mounted on and movable with said carriage, a tool carriage mounted for movement on and between said parallel standards and at right angles to the line of movement of said traveling carriage, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, unitary power transmission means mounted on said traveling carriage to operate said cutter member and move said carriage with respect to said model support, reversing mechanism for changing the direction of movement of said carriage, and automatic regulating means for controlling said re versing mechanism.

7. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel thereto, a primary carriage, a secondary carriage mounted on said primary carriage for movement at right angles to the travel of said primary carriage, parallel standards constituting guide rails mounted on one of said carriages, a tool carriage movablyf mounted for movement on and between said standards, and at right angles to the travel of the carriage on which said parallel standards are mounted, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, and power transmission means on one of said carriages to operate said cutter member and move said primary carriage with respect to said model support.

8. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel thereto, a primary carriage, a secondary carriage mounted on said primary carriage for movement at right angles to the travel of said primary carriage, parallel standards constituting guide rails mounted on and movable with one of said carriages, a tool carriage mounted for movement on andbetween said standards and at right angles to the travel of the carriage on which said parallel standards are mounted, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, power transmission means on one of said carriages to operate'said cutter member and move said primary carriage with respect to said model support, reversing mechanism for changing the direction of movement of said primary carriage, and automatic regulating means for controlling said reversing mechanism.

9. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising, a horizontal stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel thereto, a traveling carriage, paral lel vertical standards constituting guide rails mounted on said carriage, a tool carriage mounted for movement on and between said parallel standards, counterbalancing means supported by said standards and balancing said tool carriage, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, and power transmission means mounted on said traveling carriage to operate said cutter member.

10. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel thereto, a primary carriage, a secondary carriage mounted on said primary carriage for movement at right angles to the travel of said primary carriage, parallel standards constituting guide rails mounted on one of said carriages, a tool carriage mounted for movement on and between said parallel standards,counterbalancing means supported by said standards and balancing said tool carriage, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, and power transmission means on the one of said carriages not carrying said parallel standards to operate said cutter member.

11. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a stationary model support, a stationary work support parallel thereto, a primary carriage, a secondary carriage mounted on said primary carriage for movement at right angles to the travel of said primary carriage, parallel standards constituting guide rails mounted on said secondary carriage, a tool carriage movably mounted for reciprocating movement on and between said standards, a model follower carried by said tool carriage, a cutter member carried by said tool carriage and spaced at a fixed distance from said model follower, power transmission means on said primary carriage to operate said cutter member, secondary power transmitting means extending between said power means and said cutter member, and spacing means for maintaining said secondary power transmitting means in the operable state.

12. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a support, means for rigidly mounting on said support two propeller blanks sloping toward each other at an angle to said support, a movable tool carriage having two rotary cutters each for cutting the blank adjacent thereto, one blank being cut at a time, means for driving said cutters, a pattern for each blank rigidly mounted with respect to said support and having surfaces corresponding to the desired form of said blades, and pattern follower members on said tool carriage rigidly mounted thereon with"respect to said cutters.

18. In an apparatus for machining propeller blades, a horizontal stationary pattern support, a horizontal stationary propeller blank support adapted to hold a blank at each end with the adjacent ends lower than their outer ends and inclined at an angle to said propeller blank support, a traveling tool carriage, two rotary cutter members carried by said tool carriage, each for cutting the blank adjacent thereto, one blank being cut at a time, means for driving said cutter members, a pattern for each propeller blank formed with surfaces corresponding to the desired form of said blades, pattern follower members on said movable tool carriage rigidly spaced from said cutters, and a movable platform supporting said tool carriage and adapted to be moved in a horizontal plane, the inclination of the two propeller blanks rendering possible the cutting action of but a single cutter on its respective blank.

14. In an apparatus for machining propeller blades, a stationary model support, a stationary propeller blank support parallel thereto, means for rigidly mounting on said latter support two propeller blanks sloping toward each other at an angle to said support, a pattern for each propeller blank firmly mounted on said model support and formed with surfaces corresponding to the desired form of said blades, a primary carriage, a secondary carriage mounted on said primary carriage for movement at right angles to the travel of said primary carriage, a tool carriage mounted on said secondary carriage for vertical movement thereon, a pattern follower member carried by said tool carriage, two rotary cutters mounted on said tool carriage and at a fixed distance from said contact member and adapted to cut adjacent blanks one at a time, and means for driving said cutter members, the inclination of said propeller blanks rendering possible the cutting action of but a single cutter member on a blank.

15. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a support, means for rigidly mounting on said support, two propeller blanks sloping toward each other at an angle to said support, the axial line of one blank being inclined at an angle to the axial line of the other, and inclined at an angle to a vertical plane passing through said means, a single movable tool carriage having two rotary cutters, each for cutting its adjacent blank, means for driving said cutters, a pattern for each blank rigidly mounted with respect to said support and having surfaces corresponding to the desired form of said blades, and pattern follower members on said tool carriage rigidly mounted thereon with respect to said cutters.

16. In an apparatus for machining propeller blades, a horizontal stationary pattern support, a horizontal stationary propeller blank support adapted to hold a blank at each end with the adjacent ends lower than the outer ends and inclined at an angle to said propeller blank supports, a traveling tool carriage, two rotary cutter members carried by said tool carriage, each for cutting its adjacent propeller blank, means for driving said cutter members, a pattern for each propeller blank formed with surfaces corresponding to the desired form of said blades, pattern follower members on said movable tool carriage rigidly spaced from said cutters, and a movable platform supporting said tool carriage and adapted to be moved in a horizontal plane, the inclination of the two propeller blanks rendering possible the cutting action of but a single cutter on its respective blank, said propeller blank support being adapted to hold the blank at each end with the axial line of one blank inclined at an angle to the axial line of the other and both inclined at an angle to a vertical plane passing through said means.

17 In an apparatus for machining propeller blades, a stationary model support, a stationary propeller blank support parallel thereto, means for rigidly mounting on said latter support two propeller blanks sloping toward each other at an angle to each other, a pattern for each propeller blank firmly mounted on said model support and formed with surfaces corresponding to the desired form of said blades, a primary carriage, a secondary carriage mounted on said primary carriage for movement at right angles to the travel of said primary carriage, a tool carria e mounted on said secondary carriage for vertical movement thereon, a pat tern follower member carried by said tool carriage, two rotary cutters mounted on said tool carriage and at a fixed distance from said contact member and each adapted to cut its adjacent blank, and means for driving said cutters, the inclination of said propeller blanks rendering possible the cutting action of but a single cutter member 011 a blank, said propeller blank support being adapted to hold the blank at each end with the axial line of one blank inclined at an angle to the axial line of the other and both inclined at an angle to a vertical plane passing through said means.

18. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a support, means for rigidly mounting on said support two propeller blanks sloping toward each other, a movable tool carriage having two rotary cutters mounted in alinement, one for cutting each of said blanks, cooperating patterns and followers for guiding said cutters, means for driving said cutters, and means for moving said cutters toward either of said blanks to bring the cutter and follower upon that side into engagement with that blank and pattern.

19. An apparatus for machining propeller blades comprising a support, means for rigidly mounting on said support two propeller blanks sloping toward each other, a movable tool carriage having two rotary cutters, one for cutting each of said blanks,

said cutters having their axis of rotation substantially parallel to their line of movement along said blanks, cooperating patterns and followers for guiding said cutters, means for driving said cutters, and means for moving said cutters toward either of said blanks to bring the cutter and follower upon that side into engagement with that blank and pattern.

20. An apparatus for machining propeller blades, comprising a support, means for rigidly mounting on said support two propeller blanks sloping toward each other, a movable tool carriage having a rotary cutter mounted thereon, cooperating patterns and a follower for guiding said cutter, means for driving said cutter, and means for moving said cutter toward either of said blanks to bring the cutter and follower into engagement with that blank and pattern.

21. An apparatus for machining propeller blades, comprising a support, means for rigidly mounting on said support two propeller blades sloping toward each other, a movable tool carriage having a rotary cutter, said cutter having its axis of rotation substantially parallel to its line of movement along said lengths, cooperating patterns and a follower for guiding said outter, means for driving said cutter, and means for moving said cutter toward either of said blanks to bring the cutter and follower into engagement with that blank and pattern.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

SPENCER HEATH. 

